Garry Tonon Parts Ways With ONE Championship After Nearly A Decade

Garry Tonon and ONE Championship have officially gone their separate ways, bringing an end to a long-standing relationship that spanned nearly nine years. Tonon first appeared under the ONE banner in a grappling match, submitting Shinya Aoki with a heel hook at ONE 54. From there, he transitioned almost entirely into MMA, becoming a consistent […]

The post Garry Tonon Parts Ways With ONE Championship After Nearly A Decade appeared first on Bjj Eastern Europe.

Garry Tonon, widely known as 'The Lion Killer' and a prominent figure in the BJJ community, has officially concluded his nearly decade-long association with ONE Championship. A black belt under Tom DeBlass and formerly associated with the Danaher Death Squad, Tonon initially made his mark in submission grappling before transitioning to mixed martial arts under the ONE banner, joining the promotion in 2017.\n\nHis tenure with ONE saw him make his professional MMA debut in 2018, where he quickly amassed an impressive 6-0 record, leveraging his elite grappling to secure multiple finishes. This dominant run culminated in a shot at the ONE Featherweight World Championship against Thanh Le in March 2022, though he ultimately suffered his first professional loss via knockout. He later rebounded with a decision victory over Shamil Gasanov in 2023, bringing his MMA record to 8-1.\n\nThe decision to part ways with ONE Championship appears to be mutual, following the expiration of his contract. This development opens up new avenues for Tonon, potentially allowing him to explore opportunities with other major MMA promotions or even a return to a more dedicated focus on submission grappling. His departure marks the end of a significant chapter for one of BJJ's most successful crossovers into the global MMA stage.